Brace for articles of furniture



May 4, 1937. T.H. WlTTLlFF 1 2,078,985 7 BRACE FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Original Filed March so, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

- Theodore /L M'ZZZZff 969a I 0% w 94 ATTORNEYS,

May 4, 1937. T. H. WITTLIFF 2,078,985

BRACE FOR ARTICLES OF FURNITURE Original Filed March 30, 1929 2 Shee c-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

maczm H. M2 220 BY 0% v fig A TTQRNEYaS Patented May 4, 1937 ATEN-T OFFICE ApplicationMarch 30,

Renewed January 14, 1936 2 Claims.

This invention as indicated relates'to a brace for articles of furniture. More particularly it comprises a brace utilizing as the flexible elements thereof a welded Wire loop extending from one terminal member to another.

Heretofore it has been the practice to form furniture braces of flexible members of various kinds including wires and cables and chains, but it has been found that-through the use of a wire presenting a continuous loop that cheapness of manufacture may be provided for as well as increased strength and certain advantages in the operation and installation of the device. plishment of the foregoing and related ends, said 1 invention, then, consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but several of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the in.- vention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a bent wood chair having a furniture brace embodying the principle of my invention applied'thereto; Fig. Zis a central vertical sectional view showing the device illustrated in Fig 1; Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail View showing the engagement of one of the flexible members with a tensioning plate; Fig-4 is a perspective view showing the construction of one of the plates; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional View showing a means of anchoring a threaded adjusting member in one of the tensioning platesyFig. 6 is a transverse sectional viewshowing a threaded flange formed on the plate for, engaging the threaded shank of the central tensioningbar; Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section of the device shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectionalview of a plate provided with a pair of upturned ears adjacent the central .aperture therethrough for interlocking with a nut for the tensioning means; Fig. 9 is a transverse sectional view of a modified form of tensioning device including; two-plates and the tensioning means; Fig. 10 is a perspective view showing a modified form of corner fastening device; Fig. 11 is a top plan view showing my improved form of brace applied to a bed; and Fig. 12 is a view of the wire loops and tensioning plate used in connection with the be brace.

As has been indicated from the description of the drawings, the wire loop providing double wire flexible members extending between the terminal To the accom- 1929, Serial No; 351,295

members on an article-of furniture may be applied to eithera chair or a bed, the manner of inistalling the device being varied to apply the tension properly to the different configurations of said articles of furniture.

The device is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 as applied to a-bent wood chair I having a circular seat frame 2 to which is applied the seat 3. At the rear of the seat frame the bent wood frame 4 forming the back 5 and the rearward legs 6 is secured. The forward legs I are socketed in the under side of-the frame and a bracing ring 8 is secured to each of the legs at a point spaced fromthe seat of the chair. Terminal elements are secured to the rearward legs 6 at a point closely adjacent theunder side of the seat frame, said terminal elements ll preferably comprising devices of the character illustratedin Fig. 10 and having a head portion l2 formed with two halves disposed at right angles to each other so as to engage against the squared rearward faces of the rearward leg of the chair, and having a shank portion [3 bent at an angle after the same has been in serted through a hole of the leg of the chair, such bent portion being adapted to cooperate with a plate M having an aperture [5 centrally of one end and having anotched terminal portion [6 at the opposite end; The plate when applied to the shank of the bolt will assume the position shown in Figs. 1 and 10 and will thus provide a simple and eflicient means of securing the looped flexible member in engagement with the terminal member. An ordinary hook terminal member ll may be applied to each of the forward legs of the chair at a point spaced slightly below the seat frame and a like hook l8 may be inserted in the seat frame immediately above the hook l1.

With the terminal members disposed in the legs and seat frame of the chair as indicated, two flexible wire loops are used to apply the necessary tension to hold the structural members of the chair rigid. These flexible members 2|, 22. are welded wire loops which may be of substantially the same size and said loops are engaged at one end over; the-terminal member secured to one of the rearward legs and at the opposite end over each of the terminal members or hooks I7 and l8 secured to the forward leg and adjacent structure. The central portions of the loops are engaged by tensioning plates 23, 24 respectively which are of the general shape preferably illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings. These tensioning plates thus have a central flanged portion of substantially square extent and have diverging flanged portions 25 at opposite ends. Said plates are perforated centrally to provide passage therethrough for a tensioning bolt 26. The tensioning bolt in the form of device shown in Fig. 1 is provided with a slotted head 21 and a screwthreaded shank which is adapted to engage a nut 28 held in nonrotatable relation to the plate 23. The manner of securing the nut to the plate 23 is shown in Fig. of the drawings wherein the nut is provided with a projecting portion 29 of smaller diameter than the head portion which is upset on the inner face of the plate and thus securely engaged therewith. In place of using a nut of the type just described, a square nut 3| of the type illustrated in Figs. 3 and 8 may be used, such nut being held by upturned ears 32 struck back from the, plate and engaging the sides of the nut. In Figs. 6 and 7 are illustrated an integral collar 33 formed about the aperture through the plate 34 and suitably screw-threaded to engage the shank 35 of the tensioning bolt. In Fig. 9 the plate 36 is provided with a central aperture of a size to slidingly engage over the screw-threaded shank 31 of the bolt and the plate 38 is provided with a square opening 39 adapted to receive the squared portion 4| of V the bolt immediately beneath the head 42 and thus prevent the bolt rotating in relation to said plate. The tension is applied to the device by means of a tensioning element 43 which has a handle portion 44 and a screw threaded body portion 45 which is adapted to serve as a nut in engagement with the screw threaded portion of the shank 31. It will thus be seen that by rotating the handle portion 44, the body portion of the device will be operated as a nut to apply any desired degree of tension on the flexible members.

In Fig. 11 there is illustrated the application of the welded wire loop flexible members toa bed 50. In this instance it is found desirable to secure to each of the inside corners of the posts 5| at one end of the bed, a terminal element 52 over which the double wire flexible member 53 engages. To the opposite end posts 54, two hooks 55, 56 are applied, one on each side of the corner of the post and two hooks 51, 58 are applied to the side rails at points slightly above the central portion of the bed, and flexible members BI, 62 are adapted to extend respectively from one end post of the bed to the opposite side member. The manner in which the double loops are engaged with a tensioning member is illustrated in Fig. 12 which shows that the wires of each loop are brought closely together adjacent their central portion and are positioned on one side of the bolt 63 within the flanged tensioning plate 64 and the wires of the other loop 5 are placed on the opposite side of said bolt, the

ends of the loops being each engaged over two hooks at each of their respective ends.

The flexible member 53 is engaged on the opposite sides of the bolt 63 within a flanged terminal plate 65. A tensioning device of the character shown in Fig. 9 is preferably applied to the plates 64 and 55 so that tension may be applied to the device by means of a handle 44 on the tensioning element 43 carrying the nut 45 at its opposite end.

By means of the structure just described, it is possible to firmly brace chairs or beds, or like articles of furniture with apparatus which is comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and yet is capable of applying a very high degree of tension. Through the use of welded wire loops the tension is distributed to two strands of the wire and through the use of the flanged plates, the device is self-adjusting to any extent necessary. When the device is applied to the chair, the parallel strands of wires are placed on opposite sides of the tensioning bolt within the flanges of the tensioning plates and when the device is applied to a bed the double wire loop is applied on oppo-l site sides of the bolt at one end of the tensioning device and the Wires of the loop at the other end of the device are engaged respectively on opposite sides of the bolt within the flanges of the tensioning plate. Thus all of the strains are evenly distributed upon the plate and a proper amount of friction is introduced to lock the various frame members of an article of furniture into firm and rigid relation to each other when sufficient tension has been applied to the central tensioning member.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A bracing device for bentwood chairs com prising a pair of endless loops each doubled upon itself to provide substantially parallel strands, terminal elements secured to the legs of said chairs immediately beneath the seat portion thereof and other terminal elements secured to the inner rim of the marginal seat portion in spaced relation to the adjacent legs, each of said loops engaging the terminal members in the legs of said chair and in the inner rim of the marginal seat portion of said chair, a pair of tensioning members engaging said respective loops at substantially their central portions, and means adapted to move said members to apply tension to said terminal elements and the adjacent parts of the chair structure.

2. A bracing device for bentwood chairs comprising a pair of endless loops each doubled upon itself to provide substantially parallel strands, terminal elements secured to the legs of said chairs immediately beneath the seat portion thereof and a terminal element secured to the inner rim of the marginal seat portion adjacent each of the forward legs, each of said loops engaging the terminal members in the legs of said chair and in the inner rim of the marginal seat portion of said chair, a pair of tensioning members engaging said respective loops at substantially their central portions, and means adapted to move said members to apply tension to said terminal elements and the adjacent parts of the chair structure.

THEODORE H. WITTLIFF. 

